Hills of Spices: Poetry from the Bible

Overview

In the concluding lines of the Song of Songs, one lover beckons the other to hurry to the "hills of spices," a place rich in fragrances and flavors, a feast for the senses. This lovely new collection invites us all to feast our senses on poetry from the Song of Songs and from many other passages of the Bible.

Some of these, like The Song of the Sea and David's Lament, are well-known classics; others, such as surprising poetic moments in Isaiah and Ezekiel, will, for many, be delightful new discoveries. Verses from the pages of Genesis, Exodus, Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Proverbs, Psalms, and many other biblical books are here, with the JPS English translation sitting across the page from the original biblical Hebrew. The poems are organized thematically—Blessings and Curses, Laments, Love Songs, Prayers and Songs of Praise, among others—making it easy to find the right verse to fit the mood or need. There is an appendix listing the poems by biblical book, chapter, and verse.

Hills of Spices: Poetry from the Bible provides a solid foundation for understanding Jewish poetry. All Scripture references are linked to the Bibles and translations in your library, providing immediate context for the text.

Key Features

Contains biblical poetry in its various forms

Includes poems from the Torah (teachings), Nevi'im (prophets), and Ketuvim (writings)

Provides a comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Poetry

Divided into sections by poetic genre

Contents

Blessings

Prayers and Songs of Praise

Poetic Moments

Testament and Pronouncements

Laments

Judgment Oracles

Prophecies of Salvation and Consolation

Wisdom Writings

Love Songs

Praise for the Print Edition

Hills of Spices singularly conveys biblical poetry's beauty, which not only engages the mind and heart but also touches the soul or spirit . . . [a] grand collection.

—Jewish Book World

Product Details

Title: Hills of Spices: Poetry from the Bible

Editor: Rena Potok

Publisher: Jewish Publication Society

Publication Date: 2006

Pages: xxxiii, 256

About Rena Potok

Rena Potok holds a PhD in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory and an MA in Comparative Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Pennsylvania. She currently teaches English literature and writing at Saint Joseph's University.